Recipe contest winner: Caramel and Chocolate Kettle-Corn Crispie Bars

Selected from hundreds of entries, 11 finalists competed for a grand prize of $10,000 in our live cook-off at Branson, Missouri's, Silver Dollar City theme park in December 2010. Check out the winning recipes, and get your best dish ready to compete in this year's contest-details to be announced soon!

The $10,000 winner, chosen by a panel of five experts: Caramel and Chocolate Kettle-Corn Crispie Bars. Judy Reynolds of Bloomington, Indiana, started with a Hoosier staple--popcorn--and stirred together these sweet-salty snack bars. Homemade caramel sauce helps makes them a standout.

Beef Short Ribs with Cranberry-Port Gravy

Short ribs slow cook to mouthwatering tenderness in this meaty main dish spiked with cranberry sauce and rosemary from Diane Sparrow of Osage. It won the People's Choice Award from the audience at the Silver Dollar City cook-off.

The BMC 2

Jill Drury of Chicago brings sweet-salt tastes to her bacon-topped BMC2 muffin. Jill, a pharmacist, used a scientific-formula approach to name her creation based on its ingredients: bacon, maple syrup and cinnamon (squared).

Cider-Brined Coho Salmon with Dijon Cream

Freshwater salmon soaks up the flavor of cider-tarragon marinade created by Sally Sibthorpe of Shelby Township, Michigan. She finishes the elegant main dish with a cream sauce scented with aniselike tarragon.